Nurses' Perceptions of Competence in Providing Spiritual Care.

PURPOSE

The study examined nurses' perception of competence in providing spiritual care.

DESIGN OF STUDY

A descriptive correlational research design with a convenience sample was used.

METHOD

Participates completed a demographic questionnaire and the Spiritual Care Competence Scale, which has six domains: assessment and implementation of spiritual care, professionalization and improving the quality of spiritual care, personal support and patient counseling, referral to professionals, attitude toward the patient's spirituality, and communication.

FINDINGS

The domain of communication had the most favorable perception among participants and the domain of professionalization and improving the quality of spiritual care had the least favorable perception.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important for nurses to have the opportunity to gain knowledge regarding this significant component of holistic care.